Visaton Topas - price per pair.

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Complete Kits with flat pack or fully assembled cabinets available from Wilmslow Audio.

The Topas is a part transmission line design which develops a significant bass response for the cabinet size. Top quality drivers ensure smooth top end and midrange.Characteristics and sound properties

TI 100 and MHT 12 are clearly two of the best drivers VISATON has to offer. The Hobby HiFi editors developed the TOPAS model on the basis of these drivers by combining them in a delicate-looking, unusual speaker cabinet and demonstrating that they do, indeed, harmonise together beautifully. Compared with the original Hobby HiFi proposal, we have now slightly modified the crossover in order to achieve a warmer-sounding effect which guarantees long-term, relaxed enjoyment. By modifying the inner damping, it has also been possible to simplify the housing and suppress resonance even more effectively.

It is not only the spatial effects and the accuracy of the separation that are impressive, the frequency response is also unusually broad. The upper limiting frequency is at 40 kHz which is well outside the audible range. The lower 35 Hz limit is remarkably low for a 10 cm woofer. This is achieved by fine-tuning the cabinet in the borderline area between vented bass and transmission line. Obviously, the small-diameter TI 100 can only reproduce such deep bass at a limited volume level. The physical limits are dictated by the surface area of the diaphragm and the length of stroke. The TOPAS is, as a result, not intended for reproducing powerful rock music or action-packed movies. But it is surprising how often visitors say to us, after hearing a demonstration of really large, powerful speakers, "That's all very well. But at home I can hardly turn them up to that sort of volume anyway." The TOPAS has been specially designed for people like that. Small and homely but with bass quality that will have your visitors' eyes roaming the room looking for a hidden subwoofer. The TOPAS will take loads of 40 / 60 watts measured using standard measuring techniques. This does not mean, however, that the amplifier can not have a higher output level than this. It is possible to use an amp with a far higher output than this provided you take it easy with the volume settings and do not turn up the volume to a level that causes distortion in the sound quality. TOPAS speakers should be kept out of the reach of small children and overtly merry partygoers.

Extract from Hobby HiFi

"The acoustic qualities produced by the rather fragile-looking TOPAS completely exceeded all our expectations. The system was able to cope well with all genres of music from small classical ensembles through full-sized orchestras and big-band jazz to state-of-the-art pop." "The remarkably slim-line design belies the ability of the system to reproduce crisp, very deep bass. In practice, dynamic technology is nothing like as limited in its range as distortion measurements would have us believe." "TOPAS' spatial abilities completely convinced us. The remarkable bass-handling abilities are worthy of special note because the system steers clear of the droning 'bowling-alley' effect in favour of generous, broad-range treatment."

Extract from Klang & Ton

"The way the TOPAS started off was impressive, to say the least, very fine definition, dynamic and bass reproduction none of us would have thought possible only minutes before. Another impressive feature was the way these loudspeakers unravelled the more complex structures to make some details audible that one had never really noticed before. At the same time the speakers generated spatial qualities that were highly realistic. In terms of sound quality, the TOPAS speakers left nothing at all to be desired. With their diminutive TOPAS, VISATON have, once again, created great results. They offer everything the audiophile can expect from such speakers and will ensure hours of listening pleasure."

Extract from Stereo

"VISATON is aiming at those appreciators of quiet volume levels and high quality demands and has hit the bull's eye fair and square." "The latest model offered by these loudspeaker specialists uses two of the company's state-of-the-art high-end drivers." "The TOPAS system is ideally suited to the sophisticated audiophile in a small room, and fits the bill ideally." "Its tremendous transparency opens up the heart and soul of the music, leaps nimbly across the range and always with a fine sense of balance and rhythm, slightly cautiously in the mid-range, but with a warm-hearted mellowness."

Extract from HiFi Test 02/2004

"Full depth of colour which retains its stability even as the sound fades out, which immediately disqualified a large number of competing systems from the start."

"VISATON's Topas loudspeakers have the noticeable feature of being able to transmit music with a high degree of sensitivity. Their ability to reproduce even the most subtle details, coupled with their extremely precise spatial qualities and natural depth of colour of the sound means that, as from now, these speakers will become reference speakers for HIFI TEST."

The cut sections of the cabinet, except for the base, are glued as shown in the drawing. The base is removable and is screwed to four laths that have been glued into position. The fine bevel at the interface between the upper front part and the angled baffle can be made with an adjustable jig or circular saw or you may simply round off the edges with a rasp. The recesses for the speakers should be cut a little larger in diameter to allow for tolerances and the thickness of the paint or varnish. The crossover is divided across two circuit boards. One circuit board is attached to the removable base. The second is mounted on the rear wall behind the bass cut-out.

Inner damping

Two sheep's wool mats are evenly distributed in the upper half of the housing.

Component parts list for 1 box

The kit includes all necessary components (see list below). Cabinet parts are not included.